Jenson Button Ends Day One Fastest At Jerez

Jenson Button has ended the opening day of the first pre-season test fastest overall, just under a second ahead of the Red Bull of Mark Webber. Romain Grosjean ended the day 3rd overall with Lotus, after an initially slow start to the day. The day was plagued with three red flag periods, including an electrical issue for Nico Rosberg.

The day began with an early double car launch featuring Marussia and Caterham, before the sun fully rose and the first cars of 2013 left the confines of the pits and ventured out on track. The first two drivers to take to the track was the Sauber of Nico Hulkenberg and the Red Bull of Mark Webber, with Felipe Massa also quick to take to the track with his Ferrari F138 sporting intermediate tyres in the rather cool track conditions. The Brazilian driver eventually set the first timed lap of the day with a 01:35.607, however the 2012-spec Williams of Pastor Maldonado was quick to storm to the top with a 01:22.568.

Only 30 minutes into the day saw the first red flag delay caused when the McLaren of Jenson Button came to a sudden halt at Turn Four with a fuel pick-up issue plaguing his MP4-28. The Briton’s car was eventually cleared, allowing the session to resume as Mark Webber wasted no time in returning to the circuit. Nico Rosberg then quickly asserted his authority over proceedings with two quick times in close succession, with the German driver working his way down to a 01:20.846 in the new W04.

Nico Rosberg enjoyed a fiery start to testing at Jerez.

However, the German marque’s impressive performance at the front was brought to an abrupt end when Nico Rosberg was seen coasting to a halt with smoke wafting ominously from the rear of the W04. The Brackley-based outfit later confirmed that their car had suffered an electrical issue, centralized around the wiring loom. This issue on the car remained unresolved as the day progressed, with the team eventually calling a halt to proceedings in favor of modifying the part in question for tomorrow.

Daniel Ricciardo set the pace once the session resumed for Toro Rosso, impressing many throughout the paddock after the team’s high expectations for the season ahead. The Australian driver set a 01:20.547, and eventually improved at the top with a 01:20.343. Despite no official lunch break unlike last year, many of the teams did stop for a short period in the early afternoon. After a slow start to the day, Romain Grosjean propelled his E21 to the top of the timing sheets throughout the afternoon period, with the Frenchman setting a 01:19.796.

Many hours after his fuel pump issue earlier in the morning, Jenson Button finally returned to the track as the afternoon progressed. The 2009 World Champion set several installation laps before the session was once again brought to a halt after the Marussia of Max Chilton spun at the end of the back straight with suspected suspension failure. Felipe Massa returned to the track first once the session was resumed, however the Red Bull of Mark Webber showed promise by storming to the top of the timing sheets with a 01:19.709.

Despite a troublesome morning period for McLaren, Jenson Button’s day greatly improved throughout the closing stages as the Briton set the pace with a 01:18.861. This time was not beaten as the opening day drew to a conclusion, with several impressive performances up and down the grid including Paul di Resta in the Force India and Daniel Ricciardo in the Toro Rosso.

The cars will return to the Jerez circuit tomorrow morning for the second day of the opening test, which will feature Lewis Hamilton for the first time in Mercedes colors. The Briton will be hoping for a much more productive day, with the mechanical gremlins of today not recurring.

TODAY'S TIMES:

Pos  Driver               Team         Time                 Laps
 1.  Jenson Button        McLaren      1m18.861s            37
 2.  Mark Webber          Red Bull     1m19.709s  + 0.848s  73
 3.  Romain Grosjean      Lotus        1m19.796s  + 0.935s  54
 4.  Paul di Resta        Force India  1m20.343s  + 1.482s  89
 5.  Daniel Ricciardo     Toro Rosso   1m20.401s  + 1.540s  70
 6.  Felipe Massa         Ferrari      1m20.536s  + 1.675s  64
 7.  Nico Hulkenberg      Sauber       1m20.699s  + 1.838s  79
 8.  Nico Rosberg         Mercedes     1m20.846s  + 1.985s  14
 9.  Pastor Maldonado     Williams     1m20.864s  + 2.003s  84
10.  Giedo van der Garde  Caterham     1m21.915s  + 3.054s  64
11.  Max Chilton          Marussia     1m24.176s  + 5.315s  29

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